Bobby Jindal Announces 2016 Candidacy For POTUS

[Rohirrim]

Whatever happened to Jim Webb? He seems to have dropped out of the spotlight. I remember a few years back, he seemed like the next big thing in the Dem Party.

[TheElusiveKyleOrton]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

It does raise an interesting question for the Dems; If not Hillary, who? I don't see many people positioned to take over after Obama. Certainly not Biden. That would be a joke. Elizabeth Warren? I love her, but there is something about women in politics that drives a lot of white, American men insane. Kind of like having an African American in the WH. They just start frothing at the mouth. Most of the old guard of the Democratic Party are just that, old. The Dems don't seem to have any young, up-and-comers like Rubio and Ryan on their side of the aisle.

It's something I've been thinking about for a while, actually, and I know the folks in the party are thinking on it too.

Biden? Too old, very doubtful that he'd take office as a 73 year old.

Hillary? Doesn't sound like she wants it anymore, though I do think she'd make a very good President. Plus, the thought of Bill with nothing to do all day in the White House? Oh man. High comedy.

I've been saying it for a couple of years now: Don't be surprised to see Gov. John Hickenlooper (D - Colorado) run. He's a business-friendly Dem with ties to smart oil exploration, an extremely smart and competent public servant, and successful outside of politics as well. Plus, he's on the younger side.

If he writes a book sometime in the next two years (and friends I have inside the Gov's office say he's exploring the idea), there's a very good chance.

Can he win the nom? Well, that all depends on who else runs, of course, but he'd be a strong candidate, IMO.

[Requiem]

Schweitzer, Cuomo, O'Malley and Booker. That dude who is the mayor from L.A. with the super long name has been mentioned as well. The Democrats, as Ro alluded to, don't have a deep bench, but unless the Republicans get smart and let John Huntsman go on the prowl, they will be retarded.

Maybe Obama will make Huntsman Secretary of State if Hillary vacates the stage after this time.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by Requiem

Schweitzer, Cuomo, O'Malley and Booker. That dude who is the mayor from L.A. with the super long name has been mentioned as well. The Democrats, as Ro alluded to, don't have a deep bench, but unless the Republicans get smart and let John Huntsman go on the prowl, they will be retarded.

Maybe Obama will make Huntsman Secretary of State if Hillary vacates the stage after this time.

The Republicans are the party of big business, right? So why keep running the middlemen? They should make the prudent business decision and go with the principle candidates who are running the party: Rupert Murdoch and Grover Norquist.

Rupert & Grover in '16!

[TheElusiveKyleOrton]

Originally Posted by Requiem

Schweitzer, Cuomo, O'Malley and Booker. That dude who is the mayor from L.A. with the super long name has been mentioned as well. The Democrats, as Ro alluded to, don't have a deep bench, but unless the Republicans get smart and let John Huntsman go on the prowl, they will be retarded.

Maybe Obama will make Huntsman Secretary of State if Hillary vacates the stage after this time.

Brian Schweitzer would be awesome. Big fan of his, but I'm not sure he has the name recognition outside of Montana to be a real force. Plus, Montana is an Electorally-insignificant state with a small population.

In 2000, he was running for Senate against noted dickbag Conrad Burns and I was working for Montana PBS as a senior in college. I had the opportunity to interview him several times on the trail, as well as on election night, where he was in a pretty good fight with an establishment guy. In fact, there was a point in the evening where everyone at the Dem party in Helena was thinking he may just take the seat.

Didn't end up going his way, but what I saw was a public servant who really gave a damn, not just about getting elected but about doing something positive once he was.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

It does raise an interesting question for the Dems; If not Hillary, who? I don't see many people positioned to take over after Obama. Certainly not Biden. That would be a joke. Elizabeth Warren? I love her, but there is something about women in politics that drives a lot of white, American men insane. Kind of like having an African American in the WH. They just start frothing at the mouth. Most of the old guard of the Democratic Party are just that, old. The Dems don't seem to have any young, up-and-comers like Rubio and Ryan on their side of the aisle.

Julian Castro is the man to watch.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

Julian Castro is the man to watch.

That name might cause him some problems, but I guess it couldn't be much worse than "Hussein."

[frerottenextelway]

Originally Posted by TheElusiveKyleOrton

Brian Schweitzer would be awesome. Big fan of his, but I'm not sure he has the name recognition outside of Montana to be a real force. Plus, Montana is an Electorally-insignificant state with a small population.

In 2000, he was running for Senate against noted dickbag Conrad Burns and I was working for Montana PBS as a senior in college. I had the opportunity to interview him several times on the trail, as well as on election night, where he was in a pretty good fight with an establishment guy. In fact, there was a point in the evening where everyone at the Dem party in Helena was thinking he may just take the seat.

Didn't end up going his way, but what I saw was a public servant who really gave a damn, not just about getting elected but about doing something positive once he was.

That's awesome. His 2008 convention speech was one of the best I've ever seen. I hope he decides to run.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

That name might cause him some problems, but I guess it couldn't be much worse than "Hussein."

I'd love to see the reaction from the right.

I'd pay for entertainment like that.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Alan Grayson is another Dem I'd love to see run in 2016.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

Alan Grayson is another Dem I'd love to see run in 2016.

I prefer having Grayson in the House, where he can cause Boehner indigestion.

[razorwire77]

Wouldn't be surprised at all to see Condi Rice/Rubio veep vs. Hillary and somebody young guy veep like Cory Booker or Martin Heinrich.

[orinjkrush]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

I don't really care is she does or doesn't jetmeck. But she will be 70 yrs old by then. I just think she has spent so much time in public service that it seems logical she may not have it in her to try and get the nomination. You say she would be a shoe in but thats what everyone thought before Obama ripped her a new one in the primaries.

She may want to run I just see at as a longshot though.

she and Bill want her to be the first female president. it would cement them for all time in history. their egos are HUMONGOUS. if its possible, they'll try.

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by orinjkrush

she and Bill want her to be the first female president. it would cement them for all time in history. their egos are HUMONGOUS. if its possible, they'll try.

I guess i also doubt whether the DNC would really want to support her. I agree though Bill Clinton has done enough for Obama to maybe still be interested in his wife being President.

Just not sure Hilliary would fire up the young people or minorities the dems doing so well with. The women though yeah for sure.

I will stick with my original prediction that she doesn't run.

[SoCalBronco]

She will definitely run and is the favorite to win the nomination and election at this point, IMO.

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

Julian Castro is the man to watch.

Castro and his family are doing some interesting things politically. It is a very interesting story to be sure.

Republicans need to invest in diversity. Jindal thinks he has a dog in that hunt.

[Drek]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

Julian Castro is the man to watch.

In 2024 maybe. He's a freakin' mayor and he's in Texas so his path to higher office is pretty narrow, especially since his brother holds the 20th congressional district and another dem holds the 35th district. He's got to win a senate seat or the governorship of Texas, which is damn hard to do with that (D) next to your name.

The dems have a very solid and deep bench, people just don't know the names yet but they will. The stratigraphy of it that I see is as follows:

1. Hillary - Bill has always claimed that it is a moral responsibility for those who can effect change to do so. I don't see how he isn't constantly in her ear and there has to be a reason he campaigned so hard for Obama. That's a favor he's waiting to call in down the road. I'd expect her to stick to her undecided/reticent talk until mid-2014 when she'll throw her hat in the ring and everyone else will get in line.

2. Brian Schweitzer - incredibly strong candidate who destroys the majority of the GOP's arguments against dems. When/if he runs for POTUS he isn't going to just bring Montana, he'll bring Idaho, the Dakotas, Wyoming, and turn Nevada and Colorado from toss ups to hard blue. He makes the mountain west a potential sweep with the exception of Utah. 'A' grade from the NRA, fiscal record solid as granite, strong economic growth in his state that didn't rely on oil and NG explosions like his neighbors did, and a record setting pace for the nation at adding college graduates year on year.

3. Martin O'Malley - showing some success as governor and a strong candidate based on urban reform/crime prevention. I think he needs a bit more seasoning than 4 years will give him, but he could be a very legitimate dark horse.

4. Andrew Cuomo - I don't think he's got a real shot. His record implies that he is, but he's your stereotypical northeast liberal. He adds nothing new to the political landscape and isn't an inspirational figure on the stump.

5. Kyrsten Gillibrand - congresswoman turned senator, wins election in landslides, strong history of full disclosure of the gov't. process. Needs some time on the national stage, but she's a legit dark horse as well.

6. Elizabeth Warren - not really a POTUS candidate at all. She's too far left to gain national traction. Her best career path is being a long term senator a la Ted Kennedy (who gave up his POTUS aspirations after losing to Carter in the primaries and did great work in the senate). That is what she should be focused on.

7. Marty Booker - Needs to knock off/replace Chris Christie for the governorship and take a more significant office if he wants to further climb that ladder. I think he's a legitimate 2024/2030 candidate.

8. Julian Castro - Same as Booker. Needs more on the resume than being a mayor. A 2024/2030 candidate as well.

My bet is we'll see the following: Hillary runs and she chooses Schweitzer as her VP, helping her a lot in the mountain west. Her and Schweitzer on the ticket would also be a serious play towards some southern states and turn a lot of toss up states real strong blue. I could see that ticket adding Missouri, Indiana, Montana, and Arkansas without any real game changing electoral season events.

If Hillary doesn't run it'll be Schweitzer and he'll pick Gillibrand as his VP to solidify the female base and the northeast liberals. That is a HARD ticket for the GOP to compete against.

On the other side of the isle they've backed themselves into a corner based on who can/can't get through a tea party owned primary process. What I really hope to see is for Huntsman to run again and to name Colin Powell his VP during the primary process, doubling his ability to get the message out and proving that he isn't going to bend over to party pressure and pick a neo-con or tea partier for his VP. It would solidify them as a serious duo and legitimize his ticket like nothing else. No other GOP candidate has a real shot.

Rubio has too much double speak in his past and will feel like a token candidate for hispanics (same if he's the VP).

Christie has damaged himself with the tea party by not hating on Obama during Sandy, already faces an uphill battle charismatically for being a heavy dude, and has too much potential to stick his foot in his mouth when he gets worked up on at the podium.

Jindal is too socially conservative and that will be a failed path for the GOP. The way to protect fiscal conservatism is to move to the left of the democratic party socially.

Jeb Bush isn't a bad candidate but his brother is poison even before the dems tie them together. No one wants the suggestion of a "royal family". Add some dem ads tying them together on policy and he'd be DOA.

Rand Paul has the same problem as his father. Too damn crazy. No real chance.


If Hillary runs in 2016 it's hers. If not then I really hope to see competing tickets of Schweitzer/Gillibrand and Huntsman/Powell. That would be two compelling tickets that can really dig into policy.

[Requiem]

Good insight as usual, Drek.

[Rohirrim]

So why isn't Jim Webb in the picture, Drek? He solidifies Virginia (maybe gets an edge on NCarolina), is very attractive to veterans, and also the kind of middle of the road type of candidate that wins over independents. I could see a Clinton/Webb ticket being formidable.

Not that I would be too happy with it.

[BroncoInferno]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

So why isn't Jim Webb in the picture, Drek? He solidifies Virginia (maybe gets an edge on NCarolina), is very attractive to veterans, and also the kind of middle of the road type of candidate that wins over independents. I could see a Clinton/Webb ticket being formidable.

Not that I would be too happy with it.

Webb just retired from the Senate after one term. Kaine won the race over George Allen to fill his seat. He's 65, and apparently wants to return to the private sector:

On his sixty-fifth birthday, he announced that he will not seek re-election in 2012, saying that he does not want to spend his whole life in politics, and that he wants to return to the private sector.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Webb

[razorwire77]

Bobby Jindall has about as much chance of being POTUS as Rick Santorum or Huckabee. The RNC gave him an opportunity for his big national spotlight moment when he was chosen to respond to the President's State of the Union address. He was largely unimpressive.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by razorwire77

Bobby Jindall has about as much chance of being POTUS as Rick Santorum or Huckabee. The RNC gave him an opportunity for his big national spotlight moment when he was chosen to respond to the President's State of the Union address. He was largely unimpressive.

I would say more of an abject failure. That was the worst response I've ever seen.

[Taco John]

Jindal doesn't have a prayer. He doesn't have a unifying message. He's the kind of Republican that the base is rejecting right now.

[Drek]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

So why isn't Jim Webb in the picture, Drek? He solidifies Virginia (maybe gets an edge on NCarolina), is very attractive to veterans, and also the kind of middle of the road type of candidate that wins over independents. I could see a Clinton/Webb ticket being formidable.

Not that I would be too happy with it.

He did nothing truly decisive in a career as a politician, is now rather old, and has made all the suggestions that he's walking away.

[Drek]

Originally Posted by Taco John

Jindal doesn't have a prayer. He doesn't have a unifying message. He's the kind of Republican that the base is rejecting right now.

Which is why if Huntsman can get his message out he should walk through the primaries (at least, if the GOP knew what was good for them).

Huntsman's message: overhaul and streamlining of the tax code. He had by far the most mature tax plan of any GOP primary candidate last time. It didn't consist of some halfwit **** like 9-9-9, it actually made sense and would have worked fantastically well.